Homewood Chipotle to sell liquor after all
By Nikki Arseneau Correspondent June 15, 2012 8:56PM
Updated: June 15, 2012 11:48PM
The new Chipotle restaurant under construction in Homewood will be serving cerveza with its burritos and tacos.
That’s a change from earlier this year when village officials said Chipotle representatives told them no alcohol would be sold at the 17700 Halsted St. location.
Homewood’s director of community development Paula Wallrich said company representatives must have “changed their minds.”
During Tuesday’s village board meeting, trustees unanimously approved a liquor license for the restaurant, but not without commenting on the “sudden request” to sell alcohol.
“It’s kind of tough for the village board to say ‘no’ because construction’s already under way,” Kataras said.
Irene Bahr, the attorney representing Chipotle, said she was unaware of the company’s initial plans to not sell alcohol.
“Every location that we’ve opened in Illinois … we seek a liquor license for,” Bahr said.
About 5 percent of Chipotle’s overall sales come from alcohol, according to Bahr.
The Homewood Chipotle will have an outdoor patio attached to the restaurant, but it will need to come back before the village board to get the necessary permit.
Chipotle is scheduled to open in Homewood on Sept. 25.
